Article Contributed on: 4/1/2008 2:55:18 PM
Of course the Firestone/Longmont border dispute is heated, there's money on the line. But Firestone Mayor Mike Simone took the debate to an astonishing low point right out of the gate:
"The Longmont council doesn't have the guts to voice its true intent ... they have an anti-LifeBridge, anti-church, and some say anti-God, platform," said Simone, quoted in both the Daily Times-Call and the Denver Post.
Shall we unpack this? By trying to maintain a buffer of open space and by refusing to give millions to a wealthy megachurch, the Longmont city council has struck a blow against the almighty himself. It's amazing they haven't been smote.
Perhaps Simone should have enough guts to voice
his true intent. He and his allies want a megasprawl of unplanned real estate development from the Continental Divide all the way to Kansas. This isn't about religion - it's about quick bucks. Lots and lots of 'em. And if Simone has to invoke God's name to make some money, well, I'm sure the Lord will understand.
And on the topic of lacking guts, how about that "some say" Simone stuck into his words? It's a very common tactic among people saying things they know they should be ashamed of:
"It's not me saying this, mind you, just some people I won't name."
They're called weasel words - very apt in Simone's case.